Police in Piscataway, N.J., shot and killed a machete-wielding man outside a River Road home on Jan. 5 after Tasers failed to stop him. Officers later found three people dead inside the residence; the mayor identified them as the suspect's mother and grandparents. The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating, and police say there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the community. Authorities have not yet released causes of death or the suspect's identity.
Piscataway Machete Attack: Suspect Shot Dead by Police After Three Relatives Found Dead
Kyle Mazza/UNF News/ShutterstockPolice at the crime scene in Piscataway, N.J. on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.
Police in Piscataway, New Jersey, shot and killed a man armed with a machete on Jan. 5 after confronting him outside a River Road home where three relatives were later found dead.
What Happened
Officers from the Piscataway Police Department responded at about 5:30 p.m. after a 911 caller reported someone at the residence had a knife, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office said. When officers arrived, they encountered the armed suspect outside the home. Multiple attempts to subdue him with Tasers were unsuccessful, and officers ultimately fired their weapons, killing the man.
Kyle Mazza/UNF News/ShutterstockPolice at the crime scene in Piscataway, N.J. on Jan. 5, 2026.
Victims And Investigation
After the shooting, police entered the house and discovered three deceased people inside. Piscataway Mayor Brian C. Wahler told reporters the victims were the suspect's mother and grandparents. Authorities have not released official causes of death or the suspect's identity.
"You have to understand, there's a husband who is about to bury a wife, parents, and a son," Mayor Wahler said, noting that the 911 call came from the husband of one of the victims. He also said preliminary findings indicate officers "followed every guideline and gave every available opportunity to the perpetrator."
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey Attorney General's Office are investigating the deaths. Police posted on social media that the incident "appears to be an isolated incident, and there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the community." Investigators have not provided further details about the causes of death or the suspect's identity.
Context
Officials have emphasized a preliminary review of officers' actions; the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office will lead a full investigation. Local authorities ask anyone with information to contact investigators as they work to confirm the timeline and the sequence of events inside the home.
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